My long-awaited CFB preview thread 2022

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Old Dominion

Preview segment: The Old Dominion Monarchs

Last season: Much like North Texas in Conference USA, Old Dominion finished the 2021 season at 6-7. But also like North Texas, the Monarchs won their last 5 regular season games to make a bowl.
Now consider this! Thanks to the COVID pandemic, Old Dominion didn't play football AT ALL in 2020! And they STILL made a bowl in 2021! Great job by Ricky Rahne and his players. Now what will happen when they move to a new conference?

Good news: 17 starters from last year's miracle team are back, including RB Blake Watson, QB Hayden Wolff, and great line play.

Bad news: ODU has questions in the secondary that must be addressed, and it wouldn't hurt for them to find more pass catchers.

Key games:
9/10 @ East Carolina (ODU's non-conference slate is a weird one, as they'll take on the Pirates in-between games against Virginia Tech and Virginia.)
9/24 vs. Arkansas State (ODU's first conference game as a member of the Sun Belt.)
11/5 vs. Marshall (Ah! In their first year in the Sun Belt, the Monarchs will see a familiar face. ODU almost stunned Marshall last year.)
11/12 vs. James Madison (I can totally see this as ODU's "Rivalry Week" opponent for many years to come.)

Bottom line: Earlier, I screamed about USC and UCLA moving to the Big 10... mainly because the move doesn't make any sense. Why would you leave a historic conference like the PAC-12 to PLAY CONFERENCE GAMES AGAINST ILLINOIS WHICH IS ABOUT 2,500 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE THEY ARE?!
But Old Dominion's move to the Sun Belt, now THAT makes sense; ODU can develop better regional rivalries this way. And with so many players from last year returning, expectations for the Monarchs are high. But Sun Belt offenses are a different animal than C-USA offenses, so if ODU wants to compete in Year 1, their secondary have BETTER be prepared.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Louisiana-Monroe

Preview segment: The UL-Monroe Warhawks

Last season: Terry Bowden's 1st year at UL-Monroe went better than expected, as the Warhawks got 4 wins. Trouble is, both of his coordinators (Mike MacIntyre and Rich Rodriguez) then left for head coaching vacancies at FIU and Jacksonville State respectfully. So now what?

Good news: The skill positions on offense looks set, with RB Andrew Henry and 10 of their top 11 receivers from last year coming back.

Bad news: Trips to Texas and Alabama early on will NOT help a young O-line gain confidence. The defense has some big holes to fill, especially in the secondary.

Key games:
9/24 vs. Louisiana (Hope springs eternal! The Warhawks almost upset the Cajuns last year in Lafayette.)
10/1 @ Arkansas State (UL-Monroe almost stunned the Red Wolves last year, too.)
11/5 vs. Texas State (This conference game looks winnable.)
11/26 vs. Southern Miss (A winnable Senior Day game if the Golden Eagles struggle this year.)

Bottom line: For the 3rd year in a row, UL-Monroe are starting over from scratch with new coordinators. This will make it REALLY hard for them to continue the positive momentum they got from the 2021 season. Expect them to finish at or near the bottom of the Sun Belt West this year.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Louisiana-Lafayette

Preview segment: The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

Last season: A marvelous, glorious season for the Cajuns! They set a new school record with 13 wins, they won another bowl game, and finished #16 in the final AP polls. Most importantly, they finally got the stand-alone Sun Belt championship that the fan base was pining for.
But in the offseason, a "Power 5" school FINALLY wooed away Billy Napier. So enter Michael Desormeaux to try to keep the party rolling.

Bad news: Napier wasn't the only big name to bolt Lafayette; QB Levi Lewis, RB Montrell Johnson (who's now with Napier in Florida), and some studs on defense are all gone. Oh, and the new starting QB is not yet known.

Good news: At least RB Chris Smith is still here, and so are some solid tight-ends. Despite the losses, the defense should still have a good pass-rush.

Key games:
9/24 @ Louisiana-Monroe (Also working in Louisiana's favor is an east September slate, with this rivalry game being their first major test.)
10/1 vs. South Alabama (You know, South Alabama might just be the Cajuns' toughest challenge in the Sun Belt West this year.)
10/12 @ Marshall (Now THIS game looks tricky; Marshall looks to be loaded for bear.)
11/5 vs. Troy (If South Alabama can't stop the Cajuns in the West division, maybe the hopeful Trojans will put up a fight.)

Bottom line: Yes, Louisiana has lost a LOT of great things from the 2021 season. But the new coach knows the program, and the schedule is pretty easy. If the Cajuns find some answers on defense and at QB, the Sun Belt West might go through Lafayette, Louisiana once again.
I guess the pressure is on already, eh coach Desormeaux?

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

South Alabama

Preview segment: The South Alabama Jaguars

Last season: South Alabama had a chance to make a bowl invite, but couldn't seal the deal as they went winless in the month of November. But at least that goal is within reach for this group of Jaguars.

Good news: Last year's defense finished in the Top 40, and it should be that way again with a good secondary and a deep defensive line. The RB and WR positions looked solid in the spring...

Bad news: ...but it won't matter if the O-line can't hold things together; most of it was out due to injuries or surgery recovery. And it REALLY won't matter if neither Carter Bradley nor Desmond Trotter can take control of the quarterback position.

Key games:
9/10 @ Central Michigan (Looks a little weird, I know. But this game could be crucial in finding out which QB South Alabama should go with.)
10/1 @ Louisiana (Only 2 points separated these teams last year. Can the Jaguars take advantage of the Cajuns' talent drain?)
10/20 vs. Troy (A big home conference game with the Jaguars.)
11/19 @ Southern Miss (This game might be tricky.)

Bottom line: If it wasn't for all of these questions on offense, I would make South Alabama my favorite in the Sun Belt West. Thankfully, their conference slate is pretty easy and the defense is set to be good again. Come on, coach Kane Wommick! Get the offense rolling, and your team could have a fun 2022.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Georgia Southern

Preview segment: The Georgia Southern Eagles

Last season: A tough 3-9 season where the only thing that went right for Georgia Southern was the running game. Chad Lunsford was ousted in the middle of the season, replaced by former USC coach Clay Helton. And now Clay wants to toss out the option game for a balanced attack?! Hmm...

Good news: Clay was able to have a full offseason in Statesboro, so the team should be better based solely on that. The secondary has good speed, the running game should be strong (as always), and QB Kyle Vantrease will hold down the fort for the offense in 2022.

Bad news: The D-line needs a LOT of work, mainly in rushing the passer. And (of course) if you're gonna change around the GSU triple-option, you're gonna have doubters; does the name "Tyson Summers" ring a bell to anybody?

Key games:
9/24 vs. Ball State (By this time, GSU should have a pass-rush going.)
10/8 @ Georgia State (How about this, folks? Once-lowly Georgia State now leads this rivalry series against the vaunted Eagles. Of course, the Eagles has to fix this quick.)
11/5 vs. South Alabama (If the Eagles can break South Alabama's defense, this game is winnable.)
11/26 vs. Appalachian State (These rivals have played each other every year since 1993.)

Bottom line: You know, Georgia Southern had problems all across the board in 2021. Maybe it was the coaching change, maybe it was the defense. Or maybe... maybe the option attack had finally ran it's course. Maybe Clay Helton's plans to have a balanced offense will work out long-term.
Just don't expect it to work so well in 2022; GSU has maybe the hardest conference schedule in the Sun Belt, so good luck!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Texas State

Preview segment: The Texas State Bobcats

Last season: 2021 went better than expected for Texas State as they got 4 wins. Now in the new-look Sun Belt, coach Jake Spavital is just hoping to keep the upward trend going.

Good news: Overall team depth is better for the Bobcats, and RB Calvin Hill is a player to watch.

Bad news: The run defense needs to get better, and that won't be easy with only one of their top 4 tacklers from a year ago coming back.

2022 X-factor: QB Layne Hatcher- Hatcher comes in from (strangely) Arkansas State, and it appears that he's ready to fire up the Bobcat passing game. But god help Texas State if Hatcher fails or doesn't stay healthy.

Key games:
9/24 vs. Houston Baptist (Hopefully Texas State will take care of their FCS opponent this time around.)
10/22 vs. Southern Miss (This conference game looks winnable.)
11/12 @ South Alabama (Last year, Texas State defeated the Jaguars... even though it took 4-OT's to do it.)
11/19 vs. Arkansas State (Layne Hatcher vs. his old team.)

Bottom line: If the passing game and the run defense gets better, Texas State can indeed keep moving upwards. But if they can't, coach Spavital could be in BIG trouble come the 2023 season.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Coastal Carolina

Preview segment: The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Last season: Man! A "Group of Five" program with 22 wins over the last 2 years. Only schools like TCU, Boise State, and Cincinnati can lay claim to something like that. And last year, Coastal Carolina got that honor with an 11-2 season. Maybe the only thing that went wrong for CCU was that loss to App. State that eventually kept them out of the Sun Belt title game.

Bad news: And now, the rebuilding begins. Only 6 starters TOTAL are coming back to the team, leaving positions like wide-receiver and the secondary hurting for depth. Linebacker might also be a worry.

Good news: But at least CCU should have a good pass-rush with Ja'Quon Griffin (from Georgia Tech) and Josaiah Stewart up front on defense. And the Chanticleers still have QB Grayson McCall, so they should be competitive in every game they play.

Key games:
9/3 vs. Army (A great first test for Coastal Carolina in 2022. Can all of their new players handle Army's deep batch of runners, or will McCall have to do it all by himself?)
9/22 @ Georgia State (...Oh! I just remembered! Georgia State was able to beat Coastal Carolina last year, too! In Conway! So this conference opener should be a doozy.)
10/29 @ Marshall (It's the first-ever meeting between these two teams, and it might help decide who wins the Sun Belt East.)
11/3 vs. Appalachian State (Okay, it's good news/bad news time for the Chanticleers. The bad news is, CCU has this game 5 days after they go to Marshall. The good news, CCU will have the home crowd and motivation on their side.)

Bottom line: While thinking up my Sun Belt predictions, I initially had Coastal Carolina all day. Mostly because of Grayson McCall, but also because of the find coaching of Jamey Chadwell. But the depth problems they have now are quite glaring, so I'm not so sure about them.
One thing we DO know is that CCU is still gonna be a factor in the conference. And if they win the Sun Belt, I guarantee you guys that Jamey Chadwell will be coaching a "Power 5" school come 2023.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Arkansas State

Preview segment: The Arkansas State Red Wolves

Last season: A miserable 2-10 campaign.

Good news: If QB James Blackman can stay healthy, he and his receivers can put a lot of points on the board.

Bad news: Last year, the running game ranked 128th and the defense ranked 129th overall. Obviously, these two things need to get fixed soon.

Key games:
9/24 @ Old Dominion (The first 3 conference games for Arkansas State are all winnable. They'll start by facing the Monarchs...)
10/1 vs. UL-Monroe (...then they'll host the rebuilding Warhawks...)
10/8 vs. James Madison (...and then lastly host the newcomer to the FBS level. Winning at least 2 of these games will be huge for ASU's rebuilding efforts.)
11/19 @ Texas State (By this time, the Red Wolves defense will hopefully be running well.)

Bottom line: Last year's horrible campaign was a shock to the system at Arkansas State, who expect to compete for the Sun Belt title every year. Let's hope that coach Butch Jones and his team can start the climb back up in 2022.

 

[fishinabarrel]

Old Dominion

Preview segment: The Old Dominion Monarchs

Last season: Much like North Texas in Conference USA, Old Dominion finished the 2021 season at 6-7. But also like North Texas, the Monarchs won their last 5 regular season games to make a bowl.
Now consider this! Thanks to the COVID pandemic, Old Dominion didn't play football AT ALL in 2020! And they STILL made a bowl in 2021! Great job by Ricky Rahne and his players. Now what will happen when they move to a new conference?

Good news: 17 starters from last year's miracle team are back, including RB Blake Watson, QB Hayden Wolff, and great line play.

Bad news: ODU has questions in the secondary that must be addressed, and it wouldn't hurt for them to find more pass catchers.

Key games:
9/10 @ East Carolina (ODU's non-conference slate is a weird one, as they'll take on the Pirates in-between games against Virginia Tech and Virginia.)
9/24 vs. Arkansas State (ODU's first conference game as a member of the Sun Belt.)
11/5 vs. Marshall (Ah! In their first year in the Sun Belt, the Monarchs will see a familiar face. ODU almost stunned Marshall last year.)
11/12 vs. James Madison (I can totally see this as ODU's "Rivalry Week" opponent for many years to come.)

Bottom line: Earlier, I screamed about USC and UCLA moving to the Big 10... mainly because the move doesn't make any sense. Why would you leave a historic conference like the PAC-12 to PLAY CONFERENCE GAMES AGAINST ILLINOIS WHICH IS ABOUT 2,500 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE THEY ARE?!
But Old Dominion's move to the Sun Belt, now THAT makes sense; ODU can develop better regional rivalries this way. And with so many players from last year returning, expectations for the Monarchs are high. But Sun Belt offenses are a different animal than C-USA offenses, so if ODU wants to compete in Year 1, their secondary have BETTER be prepared.

Why USC and UCLA leave the PAC for the B1G is quite simple. Money and piles of it. UCLA was over 100 million in debt and getting ready to cancel several varsity sports. They will get rid of that debt and be in the black within 2 years of being in the B1G if the projected TV deal next year comes to fruition. That's hard to pass up

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Southern Mississippi

Preview segment: The Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Last season: Man, Southern Miss was cursed last year, weren't they? The defense gave up 11 non-offensive TD's, their turnover margin was in the toilet, and they finished 3-9.
And the QB spot? EWWWWW!! Their opening-day starter went down in the 2nd game, his backup got hurt as well, and then HIS backup was crap (only 5 TD's and 10 turnovers). It was so bad, coach Will Hill decided not to even HAVE a QB for the last 2 games of the year!

Bad news: The kicking game is below-average, and the O-line that sucked last year returns mostly intact.

Good news: But the O-line COULD make a big improvement, which would be great for players like RB Frank Gore Jr. and a now-healthy QB room. The Southern Miss defense actually did OK last year, and most of it returns for 2022.

Key games:
9/3 vs. Liberty (This will be Liberty's first game without Malik Willis as the QB, so if Southern Miss's offense is ready right away...)
10/8 @ Troy (The first conference game for Southern Miss as a member of the Sun Belt, and it could be a good one.)
10/27 vs. Louisiana (Another dandy for Southern Miss fans to watch! The Golden Eagles have won the last 9 meetings against the Cajuns.)
11/5 vs. Georgia State (On the flipside, Southern Miss will be facing Georgia State for the first time ever this season.)

Bottom line: So @fishinabarrel is saying that the reason that UCLA and USC are moving away from the PAC-12 is because of the almighty dollar. Well, Southern Miss's reason for moving to the Sun Belt might be a combo of money AND the chance to build more regional rivalries.
So will the Golden Eagles do well in their first season in their new conference? The defense says yes, but the worries on offense says no. If the QB position can FINALLY settle down, people in Hattiesburg might go to the postseason this December.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Appalachian State

Preview segment: The Appalachian State Mountaineers

Last season: For the most part, 2021 was another awesome year for the Mountaineers as they got yet another 10-win season. Oh, and they got their first win over a ranked opponent (Coastal Carolina) since 2007. But those 2 losses to the Ragin' Cajuns (one of them in the Sun Belt title game) HAD to sting, I'll bet.

Good news: Despite missing a few people, App. State's defense should still be OK thanks to CB Steven Jones Jr. and a couple of other playmakers. Chase Brice did awesome in his first year as App. State's quarterback, and he's got a strong O-line and RB Nate Noel with him this year.

Bad news: Chase Brice DOES have to find some new WR's to throw to, though. And the secondary looks a little thin on the depth chart.

Key games:
9/3 vs. North Carolina (Sign me up for this one! UNC beat App. State way back in 1940. App. State returned the favor 2 years ago. Now it's the rubber match, and so much is on the line in the state of North Carolina.)
10/19 vs. Georgia State (Yes, App. State has never lost to Georgia State. But the Panthers has some good consistency going their way, so the Mountaineers should be careful.)
11/3 @ Coastal Carolina (For the 2nd year in a row, this will be the biggest game in the Sun Belt East. App. State has more proven commodities than Coastal Carolina this year, but the Chanticleers will remember that 30-27 loss they suffered.)
11/12 @ Marshall (Uh oh! This could be a REALLY bad hangover spot for the Mountaineers; Marshall defeated App. State the last time they met in Boone, and they want to do it again.)

Bottom line: ...Just know that Appalachian State is gonna be a favorite in the Sun Belt once again this year. If they take care of Coastal Carolina and Marshall, they'll easily make another Sun Belt title game. And if they defeat North Carolina in the opener, who knows what could happen?

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Troy

Preview segment: The Troy Trojans

Last season: Going 5-7 is one thing. Losing your last 3 games of the season and having your offense fall into the toilet, THAT is quite another thing. So now Chip Lindsey is out at Troy, and Jon Sumrall has his first head-coaching job.

Good news: 21 starters from last year's team are back, including a salty defense loaded with playmakers. QB Gunner Watson and RB Kimani Widal lead the offense.

Bad news: If either Watson or Widal go down with injury, the Troy offense could go splat. The O-line MUST do better, especially with it's run blocking.

Key games:
9/17 @ Appalachian State (You thought I had forgotten this game in my App. State preview, did you? Nope! The game might be in Boone, but the Troy defense should give the Mountaineers a REAL challenge.)
10/20 @ South Alabama (Troy has beaten the Jaguars 4 years in a row, but South Alabama will have a chance to beat the Trojans THIS time around.)
11/5 @ Louisiana (This will be a "make it or break it" game for Troy in the Sun Belt West. If they upset the Cajuns, the Trojans can steal the division.)
11/12 vs. Army (Of course, Troy must be careful of a hangover against Army afterwards.)

Bottom line: The jury is still out on Jon Sumrall and his ability to lead a program. But he DOES know the Troy program, and he'll have a good defense that'll most likely get Troy their first bowl game since 2018. But in order for Troy to seriously contend for the Sun Belt West, getting the offense going is a must.

 

[Wamu]

Akron

Preview segment: The Akron Zips

Last season: A rough 2-10. So out goes Tom Arth and in comes former Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead.

Good news: The CFB magazines have been praising Akron's hiring of Moorhead, and he'll have people like QB DJ Irons to help him out in Year 1.

Bad news: There are a lot of question marks around this team right now, especially on defense; a pass-rush REALLY needs to be found quick.

Key games:
10/1 vs. Bowling Green (This was the only win Akron was able to get against an FBS school last year.)
10/8 @ Ohio (The Bobcats still has problems to fix, so this one is winnable.)
11/8 vs. Eastern Michigan (By this time, we'll know how well Akron's new defense is doing.)

Bottom line: Moorhead has brought in some high-level "Power 5" transfers, so maybe Akron can surprise someone in 2022. But until then, maybe we should just ignore Akron as Moorhead begins his rebuild.

Thanks for the breakdown. As usual the Zips will be lousy again. When will you do your BigTen breakdown?

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Thanks for the breakdown. As usual the Zips will be lousy again. When will you do your BigTen breakdown?

I WAS thinking about doing the Big 10 (in a separate thread) next week, but because of this whole USC/UCLA crap, I'm doing the PAC-12 next week. The week of July 18th is when the Big 10 will get done.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Georgia State

Preview segment: The Georgia State Panthers

Last season: Sometimes, in order to create a solid football program, you need patience and faith. You need to keep working hard despite hard times... and completely ignore people like me who say that maybe you should spend more time at the FCS level (like I did in 2015 and 2016).
Georgia State is a good example of that philosophy. After some early struggles, the Panthers have now had 3 straight winning seasons. And in 2021, they got a school-record 8 wins... which includes their 2nd-straight bowl win.

Good news: No worries on the offensive front; the QB, RB, and O-line spots can match up with anybody in the Sun Belt. The secondary looks OK.

Bad news: The D-line, though, has some holes that needs to be filled. And Georgia State will miss Sam Pinckney in the WR group.

Key games:
9/10 vs. North Carolina (A very rare chance for Georgia State to host a "Power 5" opponent.)
9/22 vs. Coastal Carolina (GSU can become a division contender if they shock the Chanticleers... like they did a year ago. And, wait a minute! Isn't Sam Pinckney now on the Coastal Carolina team?)
10/8 vs. Georgia Southern (The Panthers have won their last 2 games against the Eagles. Keep it going, GSU!)
10/19 @ Appalachian State (Just another chance for Georgia State to get their first-ever win over the Mountaineers.)

Bottom line: 3 straight winning seasons for Georgia State... and they have a great chance to make it 4 straight. But are they now ready to challenge for the Sun Belt East? Maybe, if the defensive line holds it together.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Marshall

The last preview segment for the Sun Belt: The Marshall Thundering Herd

Last season: A slightly disappointing 7-6 season for Marshall in their last year in Conference USA. But strangely, these guys might be the toughest newcomer coming to the Sun Belt conference this year. Why, you ask?

Good news: For one thing, Marshall's defensive line is deep and could cause headaches for Sun Belt teams. RB Rasheen Ali was voted a Freshmen All-American after getting over 1,800 all purpose yards.

Bad news: Depth on the O-line is not great for the Thundering Herd. Not to mention that Marshall has one of it's hardest schedules ever (including a trip to Notre Dame) staring them in the face.

2022 X-factor: QB Henry Colombi- Colombi is expected to be the starting QB for Marshall after transferring in from Texas Tech. Thing is if he struggles, all of the QB's behind him are freshmen.

Key games:
9/24 @ Troy (This is Marshall's first conference game in the Sun Belt, and it's against a team they haven't seen since 2004. This could be a good one.)
10/12 vs. Louisiana (This is a rematch of last year's New Orleans Bowl. And sure Marshall will be excited to host Louisiana, but the Ragin' Cajuns will likely be 5-0 entering this contest.)
10/29 vs. Coastal Carolina (Another glamour game for the new-look Sun Belt! These two will be meeting for the first time ever.)
11/12 vs. Appalachian State (You know, these two teams played each other every year from 1977 to 1996.)

Bottom line: ...Wait a minute. Marshall's schedule doesn't look that bad at second glance. Sure, they gotta face the Cajuns, Chanticleers, and Mountaineers. But at least Marshall will get to host all 3 of them! And they got 2 FCS teams on the docket as well! Maybe all Marshall has to do to compete for the Sun Belt title in 2022 is make sure the QB position doesn't suck.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Sun Belt predictions

And now, my final set of predictions for this thread as I give you the Sun Belt:

East division:
1. Appalachian State (Conference champs)
2. Coastal Carolina
3. Georgia State
4. Marshall
5. Old Dominion
6. James Madison
7. Georgia Southern

West division:
1. Louisiana-Lafayette
2. South Alabama
3. Troy
4. Southern Miss
5. Arkansas State
6. Louisiana-Monroe
7. Texas State

Tomorrow, I give you guys my upcoming schedule for the "Power 5" conference previews!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

On this final post I will make on this thread, I will present my schedule for the "Power 5" conferences. Here we go!

Next week: The PAC-12 (AKA: More hand-wringing and doom-mongering about the future of west-coast football)
Week of July 18th: The Big 10 (Why am I getting "Ocarina of Time" vibes from the Nebraska Cornhuskers all of a sudden?)
Week of July 25th: The SEC (Oh, the guys on the "SEC Shorts" YouTube channel are gonna be busy this year!)
Week of August 1st: The Big 12 (...At least this conference will be back to 12 teams next season.)
Week of August 8th: The ACC (So the ACC are getting rid of divisions? This could work out well for the Orange!)

And with that, this thread is all yours...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

2022 Playoff and New Year's Six predictions

Well, since nobody else is using this thread, I guess I'll use it to finish up my 2022 previews. It's now time for my playoff and "New Year's Six" bowl predictions, so stand back!

College Football Playoff:​

Fiesta Bowl: Alabama over Clemson (I'm harboring faith that Clemson can make it back to the playoff this year. But DJ Uiagalelei is no Bryce Young, unfortunately, so Alabama should take them out here.)
Peach Bowl: Ohio State vs. Utah (I think we're gonna have a rematch of that epic Rose Bowl from a season ago. Sadly for Utah, it'll probably end up as a close loss... just like it was 7 months ago.)
Ohio State over Alabama in the championship game: (So if the CFB magazines are saying that Ohio State is the only team that can stop Alabama this season, then why not? When the Buckeyes defense stiffens up, that'll be it for Nick Saban as he'll fall short of another national title... again.)

New Year's Six Bowls:​

Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Oregon (With Utah away in the playoff, North division champion Oregon should be able slide in and face Michigan in Pasadena).
Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Oklahoma (Didn't I already paired these guys in a bowl game a few years ago? Ah, who cares; people will still tune in to see these powerful teams face off.)
Orange Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M (Notre Dame will fill in the ACC void, and Texas A&M will have enough quality wins to get to Miami.)
Cotton Bowl: Central Florida vs. Baylor (I feel like the Golden Knights have the best chance to be the top "Group of Five" school this year. And the reward they'll get for all of their hard work? A preview of life in the Big 12 when they take on Dave Aranda and his Bears.)

...and I'm done! All that's left to do is to wait until next Saturday, when the season officially begins...